New strain of HIV detected

[Morphine Prince 109,684]

The strain is a part of the Group M version of HIV-1, the same family of virus subtypes to blame for the global HIV pandemic, according to Abbott Laboratories, which conducted the research along with the University of Missouri, Kansas City. The findings were published Wednesday in the Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndromes.

HIV has several different subtypes or strains, and like other viruses, it has the ability to change and mutate over time. It is important to know what strains of the virus are circulating to ensure that tests used to detect the disease are effective.

"It can be a real challenge for diagnostic tests," Mary Rodgers, a co-author of the report and a principal scientist at Abbott, said. Her company tests more than 60% of the world's blood supply, she said, and they have to look for new strains and track those in circulation so "we can accurately detect it, no matter where it happens to be in the world."

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said current treatments for HIV are effective against this strain and others. However, identifying a new strain provides a more complete map of how HIV evolves.

"There's no reason to panic or even to worry about it a little bit," Fauci said. "Not a lot of people are infected with this. This is an outlier."

[homomo 23,883]

This is disheartening. Especially since we've been making slow-but-sure progress on curing this virus.

Edit: I read the article, and it seems like this is actually good news for a few reasons:
- Finding this new strain will help us determine how HIV evolves, and how we can actually stop it
- Current HIV treatments are effective against this strain

So, it seems we don't have much to worry about, as this only benefits us in the race to defeat the virus!

[Edonis 28,974]

It sounds much scarier than it actually is. This one is technically a subtype of the M group of HIV (the group that causes most infections in humans) so it's not a completely new strain and likely wouldn't need new therapeutics immediately. The company that discovered it makes medical testing equipment so future cases will likely change how screening is done. It's important to always be vigilant, use protection, and be aware of how diverse this virus actually is! 

[Guest]

Well, I’m glad they discovered it & that it’ll help further HIV research.

[Mister G 10,512]

I can’t stand CNN with their alarmist headlines. Besides the point; glad that this is just an outlier and one that can definitely assist with research for stronger treatments down the line.